Open AccessVariability of Arctic and North Atlantic sea ice: A combined analysis of model results and observations from 1978 to 2001
Author(s) -
Kauker Frank,
Gerdes Rüdiger,
Karcher Michael,
Köberle Cornelia,
Lieser Jan L.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2002jc001573
Subject(s) - arctic sea ice decline , climatology , sea ice , arctic ice pack , arctic , advection , mode (computer interface) , arctic oscillation , environmental science , sea ice concentration , north atlantic oscillation , arctic geoengineering , the arctic , drift ice , geology , sea ice thickness , oceanography , northern hemisphere , physics , computer science , thermodynamics , operating system
Ice cover data simulated by a coupled sea ice‐ocean model of the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean are compared with satellite observations for the period 1978–2001. The capability of the model in reproducing the long‐term mean state and the interseasonal variability is demonstrated. The main modes of variability of the satellite data and the simulation in the summer and winter half years are highly similar. Using NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data and the results from the sea ice‐ocean model, we describe the relationship with atmospheric and oceanic variables for the first two modes of sea ice concentration variability in winter and in summer. The first winter mode shows a time‐delayed response to the Arctic Oscillation due to advection of heat anomalies in the ocean. The second winter mode is dominated by an event in the late 1990s that is characterized by anomalously high pressure over the eastern Arctic. The first summer mode is strongly influenced by the Arctic Oscillation of the previous winter. The second summer mode is caused by anomalous air temperature in the Arctic. This mode shows a distinctive trend and is related to an ice extent reduction of about 4 · 10 5 km 2 over the 23 years of analysis.